WARWICK, R.I., July 24, 2000/PRNewswire/ -- Millions of auto
owners are involved in accidents every day, which is
quite an ordeal. As if that weren't bad enough, new auto
owners are often stunned to find out that their auto
insurer won't pay in full to replace their brand new
auto even if it is involved in an accident while
driving off the dealer's lot.

"Too often, the
importance of having the right insurance is not realized
until a loss occurs, and consumers are left paying more
than expected for auto repairs," according to Michelle
DeWine, Vice-President of MetLife Auto & Home.

"There are many unexpected out-of-pocket
expenses that consumers need to be aware of, because all
insurers are certainly not the same. Frequently, it is
only after a loss that some hidden costs come into
view," DeWine added.

Below are some questions
you should ask before purchasing auto insurance:

-- Does your auto insurer replace your totaled
new auto with a new one, and not take a deduction for
depreciation when the auto is involved in a total-loss
claim?

-- Does your auto insurer replace items
like tires, batteries, steering and electrical wiring
components, without taking a deduction for depreciation,
when your older auto is involved in an accident?

-- If you rent an auto and have an accident with
it, will your auto insurance pay for the expenses of the
rental agency for the daily loss of its rental income
because the auto was out of service? Does it pay for the
towing, storage and administrative costs the rental
company may incur?

Commonly in the industry, a
total loss is settled on an actual cash value basis.
With the dramatic first-year depreciation of a new auto,
customers can receive up to thousands less than the
amounts they still owe on their autos.

"Consumers are often surprised to find out that
their insurers deduct for depreciation when settling
both total and partial loss claims on their brand new
owned vehicles. That leaves many customers receiving
quite a bit less than what was paid for or what is still
owed on their brand new vehicles," says DeWine.

"Many customers are also shocked to get bills
from a rental-car company for the company's business
losses, and are unhappy that their auto insurance does
not cover such losses," says DeWine. "To meet our
customers' needs, we've eliminated these coverage gaps
in our auto policies in most of the nation at the same
low policy cost." (Note: provided the vehicle is owned
and is less than one-year old or has 15,000 miles,
whichever comes first. See policy for details.)

MetLife Auto & Home, an affiliate of
MetLife, Inc (NYSE: MET), is one of the nation's leading
personal lines property and casualty companies with more
than 2.6 million policies in force. For more information
about the wide variety of insurance products MetLife
Auto & Home provides in all fifty states and DC,
contact your local MetLife Auto & Home provider or
authorized Independent Agent, visit MetLife's website at
http://www.metlife.com.